Open Pcb File Kicad

| 17-09-2021
[RAND-1-100] Comments

How to generate the gerber file from Kicad? Open the PCB file in Kicad. Select File → Plots. Select an Output directory in Plot window. Select the layer you needed (Normally, the layer that the gerber file should contain as below picture. F.Paste and B.Paste layer is used for. Stencil production. If you do not need a stencil, you.

  • .pro: project file. Holds parameters that apply to the entire project (schematic and PCB layout).

  • .sch: legacy schematic file.

  • .kicad_sch: the new schematic layout file.

  • .lib: schematic symbols library file.

    • -cache.lib: …​ a local copy of all the symbols used in the corresponding schematic, so that when the folder containing a KiCad project is copied to a different PC, the schematic can still be opened and printed and will still look the same as the original draughtsperson intended - even if that other PC does not have those symbols in its main libraries (or has symbols that coincidentally have the same name but are completely different).

    • -rescue.lib: …​ copies of conflicting/missing schematic symbols.

  • .mod: legacy footprint module file (Obsolete, can only be read).

  • .pretty: footprint library folders. The folder itself is the library.

  • .kicad_mod: footprint files, containing one footprint description each.

  • .000: * temporary file.

  • .bak: backup of schematic file.

  • .brd: legacy PCB layout file.

  • .kicad_pcb: the new PCB layout file.

    • -save.kicad_pcb: …​ backup of the PCB Layout file.

  • .cmp: deprecated parts-to-module assignments file. Footprint informations are now saved in the .sch files.

  • .csv: commonly used when exporting BOM file.

  • .dcm: holds descriptions, aliases and keywords for library symbols.

  • .bck: backup file for the symbol editor of the .dcm file.

  • .net: *: netlist in 'Pcbnew'; format …​ can be regenerated by viewing the schematic file and clicking the 'Netlist generation' button.

  • fp-info-cache: *: Footprint info cache: cache of information (description, datasheet URL, etc.) for all footprints used by the board.

  • fp-lib-table: Footprint library list (footprint libraries table): list of footprint libraries (various formats) which are loaded by the board or the footprint editor or CvPcb.

  • sym-lib-table: Symbol library list (symbol libraries table): list of symbol libraries which are loaded by the schematic editor.

  • drc-rules: S-expression file containing design rule checking constraints. Introduced in v6.

  • .kicad_wks: The page layout description files, for people who want a worksheet with a custom look.

  • .rpt: report file, for documentation.

  • .gbr: Gerber output files for manufacturing.

  • .drl: Gerber drill file for manufacturing.

  • .pos: position files (ASCII format), for automatic insertion machines.

  • .wrl: VRML 3D model used in the 3D viewer to represent parts.

  • .step or .stp: STEP 3D model used for integration with MCAD software packages. KiCad supports STEP file integration and can export board and component models into an integrated STEP file.

Open

Kicad Pcb Software

  1. Create Gerber Files in KiCad. From the PCB Editor in KiCad you can create Gerber files by going to the File menu and selecting Plot A window will appear. Click on the Plot button to create the Gerber files. To create Drill files, click on Generate Drill Files to open the Drill File dialog. Then click the button Generate Drill File.
  2. The ‘kicadpcb’ file contains layout information. The files with the ‘sch’ extension contain schematic information. There are two ‘sch’ files because this project includes two schematics. Project file and main window. Double-click on the ‘pro’ (project) file. The main KiCad window will appear.